Re(1): Richard Stallman looks back at 25 years of the GNU project
Posted by: Anonymous
[ip: 74.67.59.0]
on September 27, 2008 10:24 PM
i really have to disagree. no disrespect here. no flaming. i am a big supporter of open source software. i am a user of it and occasional contibuting entity. i think the bottom line is that open or closed should be a choice. code is not tangible. then again, neither is a manuscript. i oppose software patents entirely. i think a developer should release their code or not as a matter of whim. sometimes an idea is just too good to give away. sometimes an idea is too good to keep hidden. it really should be a choice. i think the thing we have to watch out for are closed platforms, places where that freedom is removed. much love for linux, but most free code [in any sense] in the world runs on ms platforms. they have a closed source but largely open platform.
you are right that software can be shared, like any information, with no additional cost to the developer. the thing people do not seem to consider is recouping that initial cost. i am not saying it is impossible, but some groups cannot take that risk. i like id software's model: they release code as they replace it. i think most everyone should do it.
you asked if we should be obliged to follow the developer's perrogative on where and when and how ideas are used? no, we should follow their opinion on where the fruit of their labor is used. i say this as one who has rewritten or entirely passed on ideas where the developer and i disagreed on how i should use the product.
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Re(1): Richard Stallman looks back at 25 years of the GNU project
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 74.67.59.0] on September 27, 2008 10:24 PMyou are right that software can be shared, like any information, with no additional cost to the developer. the thing people do not seem to consider is recouping that initial cost. i am not saying it is impossible, but some groups cannot take that risk. i like id software's model: they release code as they replace it. i think most everyone should do it.
you asked if we should be obliged to follow the developer's perrogative on where and when and how ideas are used? no, we should follow their opinion on where the fruit of their labor is used. i say this as one who has rewritten or entirely passed on ideas where the developer and i disagreed on how i should use the product.
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